MINNIE IS FOUR!!!

 FOUR! Didn’t I just find out I was pregnant, like, last week and have a pandemic baby YESTERDAY?!?! And now all of the sudden SHE IS FOUR YEARS OLD and starting 4K in the fall?

She had her first friend party (a year later than the other kids, but that’s because she only went to 3-year-old preschool, and everyone else went 2 mornings a week at 2, so this is her first time to have friends for a friend party) last weekend. She had a pool party, and when we scheduled it, we expected a hot August day. We got… 70-degrees for a high and windy **whomp whomp**. But! We also got endless sun and the pool to ourselves.

Even the beer was on theme:

Costco bday cakes are maybe the best thing about costco

Piñata chaos

Coop filled his pockets

Ben dressed to match

Dorothy and her bff were CLUTCH for present opening.

And party set up

These balloons barely survived the wind

Thankfully, when we saw the weather forecast, we got crowns to decorate and bracelets to make and bubbles galore.

Yessssss queen

She loved beating the hell out of the piñata she so lovingly selected and played with **yikes face**

Big kid!!

Dorothy, Coop, and Lena were the best party helpers and could basically start a side hustle.

THE WATER WAS SO COLD THO

Ben “forgot” his suit

The car also was rough on the balloons.

There I am TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM

She had 3 pieces of cake.

Dorothy: barely taller than the preschoolers.

But super strong

LOL her little stance kills me

Pizza and fries— her favorite foods.

Seriously she looks so grown up.

Next year, I think we will try to have her party after her birthday maybe because she was VERY BOTHERED that she still actually had 3 days left as a 3 year-old. Luckily! Her preschool bff had a birthday party THE VERY NEXT DAY.

On Monday, a lifeguard brought Minnie a bday present to the pool, which was a delightful surprise

And she wore a fancy dress to celebrate the LAST DAY OF THREE

As you can see, she helped bake her own cake. And she decorated it to her exact specifications

Ben was in Peoria when Minnie woke up on her bday morning, so we held off on cake and our gifts until dessert (when Ben was home), but she blew a candle out on her (pink) pancakes (with sprinkles) and opened gifts from her grandparents. Ben’s mom and dad sent her an etch a sketch (big hit) and the game hot potato (huge crowd fave with the sibs) and a SCOOTER that is now Minnie’s fave thing in the world.

My mom gifted her a toy shopping spree, and she went ALL IN on dolls and accessories:

We had a cookie at her favorite coffee shop and dinner at Culver’s (her choice OBVI)

When Ben got home, we could finally eat her pink cake and open the gifts that had been tempting her on the table

And yes, she does like her unicorn scooter way better than her Trek bike. 

But seriously, you guys. Can you even believe that MINNIE MARIGOLD is FOUR?!